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Post by couldileaveyou on Jul 20, 2023 10:00:08 GMT
I know it's always a challenge to credit the female lead character in this story, but "Second Mrs de Winter / 'I' "!? Anyway, it's great to get some news on this production. Isn't she always listed as "Ich" in the German version?
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Post by viserys on Jul 20, 2023 10:18:38 GMT
She is.
And that is pretty underwhelming casting.
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Post by capybara on Jul 20, 2023 10:40:36 GMT
Very excited to see Lauren Jones take on this role. Anyone who has seen her covering Bonnie knows just how brilliant she will be.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 20, 2023 19:21:38 GMT
Not heard of a single person in the cast or creative team.
Gonna be a stinker.
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Post by showtoones on Jul 20, 2023 19:39:39 GMT
Not heard of a single person in the cast or creative team. Gonna be a stinker. I think most things at this theatre have been lackluster, though i loved the actor/musician Ragtime that they did. I thought their Woman In White left a lot to be desired, and I happen to really like that show.
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Post by BVM on Jul 21, 2023 9:12:11 GMT
Not heard of a single person in the cast or creative team. Gonna be a stinker. What a ludicrous thing to say. So you not hearing of anyone means it’s going to be a “stinker?!” They all have perfectly reasonable MT CVs. Richard Carson has played Javert in Les Mis and Chris in Miss Saigon. Were you hoping for Glenn Close?!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 25, 2023 18:53:56 GMT
Not heard of a single person in the cast or creative team. Gonna be a stinker. What a ludicrous thing to say. So you not hearing of anyone means it’s going to be a “stinker?!” They all have perfectly reasonable MT CVs. Richard Carson has played Javert in Les Mis and Chris in Miss Saigon. Were you hoping for Glenn Close?! Anyway here’s the set, piccy shamelessly nicked from Facebook
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Jul 25, 2023 19:01:11 GMT
I think that's the set for Glory Ride, which finishes its run at the venue on Saturday.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 25, 2023 19:03:25 GMT
Lesson : never trust Facebook. 🙂
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Post by viserys on Jul 25, 2023 19:13:42 GMT
Tbf, I saw that picture as well and thought it was for Rebecca and the set was for Manderley.
But when you look closer, the posters have a cyclist on them and the skyline in the background is Florence.
I'm relieved though that they've gone back to a traditional stage rather than the traverse.
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Post by BVM on Jul 29, 2023 8:44:51 GMT
Kween Willemijn doing Frozen in Hamburg in fact - much bigger gig in an, ahem, slightly nicer theatre than Charing X. At risk of channeling Sunset thread, poss the oldest ever Elsa? Sure she’ll be sensational though. Adored her in Bat Out of Hell and Rebecca.
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Post by anthony on Aug 12, 2023 9:36:30 GMT
Kween Willemijn doing Frozen in Hamburg in fact - much bigger gig in an, ahem, slightly nicer theatre than Charing X. At risk of channeling Sunset thread, poss the oldest ever Elsa? Sure she’ll be sensational though. Adored her in Bat Out of Hell and Rebecca. Well she's the voice of the German and Dutch Elsa, so I guess she's a major selling point. Anyway, so excited for Rebecca. I don't think I've been this excited for something since Love Never Dies! When Rebecca debuted, I was obsessed with other Kunze musical 'Elisabeth'. This has literally been 17 years waiting for me! I just hope it does well enough to get an English cast recording... I have a feeling it won't (I watched an interview with Kunze last night where he is very cut throat about an English language production - if Charing Cross doesn't work, he won't try again... and he isn't even sure about doing an English language version of the show anymore...). I do think they'd have been better, perhaps, getting a name for Danvers. Without glowing reviews, I think this was always going to be a hard sell, sadly. Shows like this just don't do well with English-speaking audiences, sadly. Pictures of the cast here: www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Photos-First-Look-at-the-Stars-of-REBECCA-at-Charing-Cross-Theatre-20230802
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Post by Scswp on Aug 12, 2023 13:32:01 GMT
Kween Willemijn doing Frozen in Hamburg in fact - much bigger gig in an, ahem, slightly nicer theatre than Charing X. At risk of channeling Sunset thread, poss the oldest ever Elsa? Sure she’ll be sensational though. Adored her in Bat Out of Hell and Rebecca. Well she's the voice of the German and Dutch Elsa, so I guess she's a major selling point. Anyway, so excited for Rebecca. I don't think I've been this excited for something since Love Never Dies! When Rebecca debuted, I was obsessed with other Kunze musical 'Elisabeth'. This has literally been 17 years waiting for me! I just hope it does well enough to get an English cast recording... I have a feeling it won't (I watched an interview with Kunze last night where he is very cut throat about an English language production - if Charing Cross doesn't work, he won't try again... and he isn't even sure about doing an English language version of the show anymore...). I do think they'd have been better, perhaps, getting a name for Danvers. Without glowing reviews, I think this was always going to be a hard sell, sadly. Shows like this just don't do well with English-speaking audiences, sadly. Pictures of the cast here: www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Photos-First-Look-at-the-Stars-of-REBECCA-at-Charing-Cross-Theatre-20230802It’ll be interesting to see how they do this on such a small scale. I saw the revival in Vienna a few months ago and the staging was epic. The staging was very much that of a 1980s mega-musical, so making it work in such a small space will be a challenge, I think. The role of Danvers is a big sing and requires powerful acting too. Kara Lane will have her work cut out, as the bar has been set high by other performers in the role - particularly Susan Rigvava-Dumas, Pia Douwes, Willemijn Verkaik and Ock Joo-Hyun. The originals in each production have been amazing vocalists - hopefully, Kara will be able to match them.
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Post by anthony on Aug 15, 2023 10:35:14 GMT
English version of Jenseits der Nacht has been released!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Some interesting translating choices "abandoned spirits" from Ich sounding particularly odd, but it sounds sooo good overall. omg.
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Post by Scswp on Aug 15, 2023 10:47:43 GMT
English version of Jenseits der Nacht has been released! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Some interesting translating choices "abandoned spirits" from Ich sounding particularly odd, but it sounds sooo good overall. omg. I agree about the translation choices, but I enjoyed the performance. Was Lauren Jones the understudy for Bonnie recently? I’m sure I saw her in that and she gave a good performance in that role too.
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Post by anthony on Aug 15, 2023 10:54:11 GMT
English version of Jenseits der Nacht has been released! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Some interesting translating choices "abandoned spirits" from Ich sounding particularly odd, but it sounds sooo good overall. omg. I agree about the translation choices, but I enjoyed the performance. Was Lauren Jones the understudy for Bonnie recently? I’m sure I saw her in that and she gave a good performance in that role too. Yes, she was. Really like Richard Carson too. This gives me high hopes! Also revealed how the 18-piece orchestra will fit: www.thestage.co.uk/news/exclusive-charing-cross-theatre-to-rival-west-end-with-19-strong-orchestra-pit < surely this is going to make productions at Charing Cross financially unviable, though? Either way, the Rebecca score is going to sound marvellous.
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Post by magnificentdonkey on Aug 16, 2023 3:39:55 GMT
English version of Jenseits der Nacht has been released! Thank you! I wouldn't mind if they recorded the whole score like this (with just a piano accompanying the voices) and released a CD of it! Also I'm happy this is really happening at last after so many years of anticipation!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 16, 2023 7:46:28 GMT
Nicely performed but that song is boring AF. Also an 18 piece orchestra? What?! This whole show has to be a tax write off or something. Or a producer who has never done a show before 🤣
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Post by originalconceptlive on Aug 16, 2023 8:29:49 GMT
I watched an interview with Kunze last night where he is very cut throat about an English language production - if Charing Cross doesn't work, he won't try again... and he isn't even sure about doing an English language version of the show anymore... That's interesting. I do wonder what measures Kunze would use to judge this production as having "worked". The bar isn't exactly high for English language attempts at his shows thus far. Would a production that mostly stayed true to his intentions, achieved a modest run without any major production disasters, and got some mixed reviews, be enough? (I don't mean this in a particularly snarky way; I just don't want this production to require raves and a West End transfer* or something, in order for the rest of the world to have a chance of seeing the show in English someday.) (*Edit: or is this technically a West End theatre?)
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Post by viserys on Aug 16, 2023 11:03:14 GMT
Cut the man some slack, he's turning 80 this year.
He was at the height of his musical theatre fame in the 90s and 00s with Elisabeth, Tanz der Vampire and then Rebecca and he was very vocal about wanting to make it in London and on Broadway then, talking about exporting Vienna's musicals to the world.
Well, Tanz der Vampire flopped spectacularly in New York and Rebecca didn't get off the ground twice, first in London with the mysterious lake under the Shaftesbury Theatre and then the whole saga around the non-existant investor on Broadway.
In the meantime, his musicals are still popular in the German-speaking regions and other parts of Europe as well as in Japan and South Korea, where he and Levay wrote three musicals on commission.
I'm sure he's reached a point at his age where he's content with what he has achieved in continental Europe and Asia and doesn't care for fame in the Anglo-American sphere anymore, especially since taste in musicals has drastically diverged in the last 10-20 years. AT least, unlike certain other composers, he seems to understand that his style does not match the current trends anymore and doesn't desperately try and keep up with the young'uns.
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Post by anthony on Aug 16, 2023 11:31:08 GMT
Cut the man some slack, he's turning 80 this year. He was at the height of his musical theatre fame in the 90s and 00s with Elisabeth, Tanz der Vampire and then Rebecca and he was very vocal about wanting to make it in London and on Broadway then, talking about exporting Vienna's musicals to the world. Well, Tanz der Vampire flopped spectacularly in New York and Rebecca didn't get off the ground twice, first in London with the mysterious lake under the Shaftesbury Theatre and then the whole saga around the non-existant investor on Broadway. In the meantime, his musicals are still popular in the German-speaking regions and other parts of Europe as well as in Japan and South Korea, where he and Levay wrote three musicals on commission. I'm sure he's reached a point at his age where he's content with what he has achieved in continental Europe and Asia and doesn't care for fame in the Anglo-American sphere anymore, especially since taste in musicals has drastically diverged in the last 10-20 years. AT least, unlike certain other composers, he seems to understand that his style does not match the current trends anymore and doesn't desperately try and keep up with the young'uns. I'm not sure anyone is disagreeing with you. Also don't think anyone is being harsh towards Kunze? At all, actually.
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Post by anthony on Aug 16, 2023 11:34:04 GMT
I watched an interview with Kunze last night where he is very cut throat about an English language production - if Charing Cross doesn't work, he won't try again... and he isn't even sure about doing an English language version of the show anymore... That's interesting. I do wonder what measures Kunze would use to judge this production as having "worked". The bar isn't exactly high for English language attempts at his shows thus far. Would a production that mostly stayed true to his intentions, achieved a modest run without any major production disasters, and got some mixed reviews, be enough? (I don't mean this in a particularly snarky way; I just don't want this production to require raves and a West End transfer* or something, in order for the rest of the world to have a chance of seeing the show in English someday.) (*Edit: or is this technically a West End theatre?) I have a feeling success will be judged on how well it sells, as opposed to financial gains. I hope it does well in reviews, but I have a feeling it won't, sadly - these type of shows never seem to perform well anymore. Financially, it's probably going to make a loss, right? I mean I don't know how much the musicians and actors are being paid, but obviously with an 18-piece orchestra (well, the Stage is now reporting it's a 19-piece orchestra?), surely this is going to struggle to make back its investment? It presently isn't selling tremendously well. Either way, I hope it does well enough so that Kunze tries some other shows at venues like Charing Cross (GIVE ME ELISABETH, ALREADY! AND MOZART!). You know, could even try going the Notre Dame de Paris world tour route and just bring it in German for a limited run...
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Post by max on Aug 16, 2023 12:46:07 GMT
The word "I" or "I'd" is used six times in the first 20 sung seconds of the song released on YouTube - those self-describing songs feel incredibly dated, and were never good writing. Though the style of song (to my ears) comes from Les Miserables, the lyrics of that show are wise to dodge the pitfall. In 'At The End Of The Day' it's all 'you' you're' 'you'll' not 'I'm hungry / we're poor'. Another song could easily have been "I'm alone" but thankfully was "On My Own" instead.
It's a shame, because I'd like to see success for a show that aims to draw you in without meta theatrical winks, or musical comedy traits, and even takes itself a bit seriously (crime!). But if this isn't a good example of that style it will only confirm the steer away from that for any new shows (obvs old show like Phantom and Les Mis will carry on, and perhaps survive because, largely, they don't lapse into those clunky presentational 'I' lyrics).
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Post by viserys on Aug 16, 2023 12:49:30 GMT
Also don't think anyone is being harsh towards Kunze? At all, actually. Oh, I'm happy to be harsh on Kunze myself Just felt the phrasing of him being "cut throat" and that he "wouldn't try again" (if this fails) warranted a bit of explaining why I can perfectly understand his attitude after all the disappointments. I think "Elisabeth" missed its chance in the 90s, when Princess Diana was still alive (or in the first years after her death when she was still massively beloved) since it could have played on their similarities to make Elisabeth's story more interesting for a British audience. These days I don't think it stands a chance anymore compared to the current approach of turning any kind of historical figure into either a rapper or a sassy YASSS QUEEEN!! type. Mozart can go die in a fire, it was really just a bottom-drawer recycling of the tunes they didn't use for Elisabeth. That said, I've been saying for years, someone should put on a season of foreign shows to showcase them - Elisabeth and/or Rebecca from Austria, one of the French spectacles, one of the original East Asian shows, and so on. PS: Not sure where you live, Anthony, but if you're keen on seeing Elisabeth, there's a new production being planned in the Netherlands next season. PPS: I doubt Rebecca will be able to recoup. People are SO used to the Charing X Theatre discounting, many are probably waiting for that. Me included
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Post by Boob on Aug 16, 2023 13:17:03 GMT
I really hope this has new orchestrations. I feel the dated soft rock/pop style (snare drum beat in the chorus of the above song, for instance) really won’t go down too well over here. It needs to sound lush, orchestral and a bit more trad.
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Post by amygdalopita on Aug 16, 2023 19:02:21 GMT
I really hope this has new orchestrations. I feel the dated soft rock/pop style (snare drum beat in the chorus of the above song, for instance) really won’t go down too well over here. It needs to sound lush, orchestral and a bit more trad. it will be the same I imagine based on VBW having their logo all over every poster I would guess the entire show (apart from design and direction) will be copy paste.
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Post by anthony on Aug 16, 2023 19:06:24 GMT
I really hope this has new orchestrations. I feel the dated soft rock/pop style (snare drum beat in the chorus of the above song, for instance) really won’t go down too well over here. It needs to sound lush, orchestral and a bit more trad. it will be the same I imagine based on VBW having their logo all over every poster I would guess the entire show (apart from design and direction) will be copy paste. I imagine you're right -Janseits der Nacht was one of the songs that was performed publicly from the cancelled Broadway production and that had amended orchestrations and it had a different layout to the song - Ich sang first. The video we got yesterday reverts back to how it's been done in the German-language productions, with having Maxim start. So certainly implies it'll be cut and paste - not that that is a bad thing, in my opinion.
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Post by anthony on Aug 16, 2023 19:08:00 GMT
Also don't think anyone is being harsh towards Kunze? At all, actually. Oh, I'm happy to be harsh on Kunze myself Just felt the phrasing of him being "cut throat" and that he "wouldn't try again" (if this fails) warranted a bit of explaining why I can perfectly understand his attitude after all the disappointments. I think "Elisabeth" missed its chance in the 90s, when Princess Diana was still alive (or in the first years after her death when she was still massively beloved) since it could have played on their similarities to make Elisabeth's story more interesting for a British audience. These days I don't think it stands a chance anymore compared to the current approach of turning any kind of historical figure into either a rapper or a sassy YASSS QUEEEN!! type. Mozart can go die in a fire, it was really just a bottom-drawer recycling of the tunes they didn't use for Elisabeth. That said, I've been saying for years, someone should put on a season of foreign shows to showcase them - Elisabeth and/or Rebecca from Austria, one of the French spectacles, one of the original East Asian shows, and so on. PS: Not sure where you live, Anthony, but if you're keen on seeing Elisabeth, there's a new production being planned in the Netherlands next season. PPS: I doubt Rebecca will be able to recoup. People are SO used to the Charing X Theatre discounting, many are probably waiting for that. Me included Ooh, nice re: Elisabeth. I've been waiting for a proper performance for years. I don't fancy seeing the concert version (which I believe is eventually being put to rest now!). Might have to make a trip - just had a look and it doesn't look like anything has been released yet? A foreign language showcase could work, I think. Notre Dame de Paris is having a very successful world tour, so the language issue doesn't seem to put people off. We could have some Takarazuka, even! That would be immense.
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Post by viserys on Aug 16, 2023 19:34:26 GMT
Ooh, nice re: Elisabeth. I've been waiting for a proper performance for years. I don't fancy seeing the concert version (which I believe is eventually being put to rest now!). Might have to make a trip - just had a look and it doesn't look like anything has been released yet? There was a lovely open air version in Brussels last year in French that I really enjoyed. The concert version is a massive rip-off in my opinion as the seating area is huge and you either pay through your nose or sit miles away. Did you see the pro-shot that was on Austrian TV? If not, feel free to PM me, I can probably help with anything Elisabeth There's only been a press release on the new tour so far, which you can run through Google Translate probably: www.musicalweb.nl/musicalklassieker-elisabeth-terug-in-de-nederlandse-theaters-27476Takarazuka would be amazing. I still kick myself that I was in Tokyo during one of their runs of Elisabeth, but I had no idea it would sell out within hours of the tickets going on sale And now back to Rebecca!
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Post by originalconceptlive on Aug 16, 2023 21:19:00 GMT
To continue the Rebecca-adjacent tangents for just a moment more: there was a version of Mozart! done at a performing arts school in the UK a few years ago. (To the interest of no one on this board apart from me, alas: theatreboard.co.uk/thread/6673/levays-mozart-mountview-academy-theatre.) So there is some kind of English version of that show lurking around. The recent Elisabeth concert pro-shot is also available (with subtitles) on DVD and Blu-Ray for those so inclined.
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